29 As
for the other events of Solomon’s reign, from beginning to end, are they not
written in the records of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah the
Shilonite and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat?
30 Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. 31 Then
he rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David his father.
And Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king.
13 The
weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents,[d]14 not
including the revenues brought in by merchants and traders. Also all the kings
of Arabia and the governors of the territories brought gold and silver to
Solomon.
15 King
Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels[e] of hammered
gold went into each shield. 16 He also made three hundred small
shields of hammered gold, with three hundred shekels[f] of gold in
each shield. The king put them in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.
17 Then
the king made a great throne covered with ivory and overlaid with pure gold. 18 The
throne had six steps, and a footstool of gold was attached to it. On both sides
of the seat were armrests, with a lion standing beside each of them. 19 Twelve
lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like it
had ever been made for any other kingdom. 20 All King Solomon’s
goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the Palace of the Forest
of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver, because silver was
considered of little value in Solomon’s day. 21 The king had a
fleet of trading ships[g] manned by
Hiram’s[h] servants.
Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes
and baboons.
22 King
Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.
23 All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon to
hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. 24 Year after year,
everyone who came brought a gift—articles of silver and gold, and robes,
weapons and spices, and horses and mules.
25 Solomon
had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horses,[i] which he
kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 26 He
ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates River to the land of the
Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. 27 The king made
silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig
trees in the foothills. 28 Solomon’s horses were imported from
Egypt and from all other countries.
When
the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him
with hard questions. Arriving with a very great caravan—with camels carrying
spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones—she came to Solomon and
talked with him about all she had on her mind. 2 Solomon
answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for him to explain to her. 3 When
the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon, as well as the palace he had
built, 4 the food on his table, the seating of his officials,
the attending servants in their robes, the cupbearers in their robes and the
burnt offerings he made at[a] the temple
of the Lord, she was overwhelmed.
5 She
said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements
and your wisdom is true. 6 But I did not believe what they said
until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half the greatness of
your wisdom was told me; you have far exceeded the report I heard. 7 How
happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand
before you and hear your wisdom! 8 Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you
and placed you on his throne as king to rule for the Lord your God. Because of the love of your God for Israel
and his desire to uphold them forever, he has made you king over them, to
maintain justice and righteousness.”
9 Then
she gave the king 120 talents[b] of gold,
large quantities of spices, and precious stones. There had never been such
spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
10 (The
servants of Hiram and the servants of Solomon brought gold from Ophir; they also
brought algumwood[c] and
precious stones. 11 The king used the algumwood to make steps
for the temple of the Lord and for
the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. Nothing like
them had ever been seen in Judah.)
12 King
Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for; he gave her more
than she had brought to him. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her
own country.
50 When
he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and
blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and
was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and
returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed
continually at the temple, praising God.
